Nagaland Health dept finally writes to GMCH
The H&FW Principal Director officially wrote a letter to the GMCH on April 20. (Image Courtesy: https://nagahealth.nagaland.gov.in/)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 20
"The positive case of Nagaland has been added to the tally of Assam state as sampling was done in Assam. The patient is admitted in Guwahati Medical College (GMCH)" has been the official stand of the Nagaland state government since the first COVID-19 positive case was reported from the state on April 12.
A convenient disclaimer on the part of the Nagaland government, yet, on the other side, it has been no more than shifting responsibility.
A week since Nagaland's first COVID-19 patient was admitted at the GMCH, it has emerged that the Nagaland governement has yet to officially liaise with its counterpart. A clearly exasperated GMCH official told The Morung Express, late on April 19 night, that the Nagaland government has not bothered to check up on the patient at an official level.
"Please put someone from Nagaland House (Guwahati) to liaise. Nobody has visited my office. This is my request, please ask the Nagaland House (officials) to come here," were the words of GMCH Superintendent Dr Ramen Talukdar.
By Nagaland House, he clearly implied the Nagaland state government or the Health Department.
On Nagaland's part, the government's update on the condition/status of the patient has been no more than a disclaimer.
As to the patient's condition, Dr Talukdar said that his condition has improved. "He is in the ICU now. But tomorrow (April 20), we are planning to shift him to the Isolation Ward," he said.
He added that the patient's nasal swab sample was collected on April 18 for a second test. He did not specify the test result, while stating that a third test will be conducted on the 17th day since his admission to the GMCH.
Patient out of ICU
Meanwhile, it was informed that the patient was moved from the ICU to the Isolation Ward on April 20. Dr Talukdar said that he was fine and his condition will be monitored till the next swab sample test.
On Monday evening, it was learnt that the Nagaland Health & Family Welfare (FW) Department has written to the Guwahati Medical College & Hospital. Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Kesonyu Yhome told The Morung Express that the H&FW Principal Director officially wrote a letter to the GMCH on Monday.
The official maintained that communication over the phone was there from day one, while adding that the state Health Department was maintaining contact with the GMCH to get the status of the patient.
While stating that it would be “immature to contest statement after statement,” he said that it has been the position of the state government to reach out. He added that since it has now become official, the Assam counterpart would also respond officially.
